Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-12-28
HAVING A GOOD TIME.
The Work Of the Children's Christina
Club.
HUNDREDS OF POOR CHILDREN THROUGHOUT TIL
DISTRICT GIVEN EACH DINNER AND A HOLIDAY
PRESENT.

Club.
HUNDREDS OF POOR CHILDREN THROUGHOUT THs
DISTRICT GivHS EACH DINNER AND HOLIDAY
PRksKNT.
This was Christmas Club day. There were
more than two thousand little guests entertained
| by the Christmas clubs In different parts of the
city. There were four dinners, one at the National
Rifles Arnory, one In East Washington, one In
West Washington, and one given by the Colored
Christmas Club in the Metropolitan A. NJ. Z.
Church These were true Old-fashiened Christ
mas dinners, with an abundance OF turkey and
| other good things At some OF the dinners, too,
santa Claus appeared either in person or vicart
ously, and distributed toys and candles.
The Dinner In District ~.
The guests OF the Chlldrens' Christmas Club Of
District II were asked to dinner at the National
Rifles Armory to-day at 9 O'Clock. 1t was some
time before II O'Clock when the guests, in order to
avoid the impoli;e ness OF being late, began to ar
rive. From that time until the hour named in the
cards OF invitation, delegations were constantly
arriving and the vicinity Of the armory was more
or less enlivened by the activity OF the boys VINO
had keen appetites II they had not tickets OF inv-
not allowed to stand outside in the rain and cold
but were permitted to 80 upstairs In the hall and
walt there until the dinner bel rang. The hall
was very handsomely decorated for the occasion
by the National Rifles, and the boys had
an opportunity to admire The the taste dis
more about the dinner down stairs.
Lieut.. Manson and detail OF the Rifles were on
hand and assisted the ladies' in taking care OF the
guests The police were, OF course, present, and
as usual, rendered invaluable aid. The sorting
out process and the separation OF the boys with
and without tickets caused jam at times at the
door. But this pressure was relieved occasionally
oy the arrival OF wagon with ice-cream freezerS
and other materials for the least, which was sure,
every time, to cause a wild stampede of the boys
In The direction OF the wagon, where they SUPER
intended every detail OF the unloading: The boys
In the hail were very much interested in the plies
OF packages and boxes heaped up In front OF the
stage, and those who had been at previous dinners
told the others what might be expected when the
curtain was raised. They knew very well that
the curtain concealed handsome Christmas tree
all aglOw with light and color which would
burst upon their delighted gaze in all its
glory after dinner. In the heaps OF packages
the boys knew that there was COX OF candy, a
Christmas card and some toys for each child. SO
there was buzz Of happy anticipation all over
the hall. In the meantime the ladies' dinner CON-
mittee were hard at work in the room down stairs
getting the tables in readiness There were six
long tables and at each end OF the hall two short
tables. AT each place was plate OF turkey, apple
butter, potatoes, oranges, apples, and most I'm
portsnt OF all ice cream. This latter was distri-
buted in little boxes and the children were en-
Joined TO eat the contents before returning to the
hall upstairs.
At l:3O the tables were in readiness. The r.tle
waiter girls in their caps and aprons, and the
waiter boys with the badge OF the Christmas Club
were in their places at the long tables. The child
rem upstairs were ready long ago, and when the
signal was given they were prepared TO go down
to the lower hall They lost no time in getting
down stairs and there was q great babel
OF childish voices when they saw the good things
before them. They were induced to be quiet for a
moment while Rev. Chas. Pyne, OF st. Johns
Church, offered blessing, and then they fell TO
without further ceremony. When they had fin
ished their dinner they returned to the upper
hall, where the glOries OF the Christmas tree were
exhibited, and where the strains OF the Marine
Band were heard. Mr. Hubbard T. Smith, very
successfully disguised as santa Claus appeared to
the immense delight OF The children. and improved
upon his predecessors by dancing and singing, all
OF which entertained the children hugely. 1nen
they laughed over the domestic discipline OF Mr..
Punch, and mourned over the untiiney fate OF
Mrs. Judy and the baby and the other victims OF
wicked Mr.. Punch. The children enjoyed the en-
tertainnent, and after receiving the gifts or toys
and candies they went home delighted with the
hospitality OF the Christmas CLUB. Miss Mollie
Villas distributed the candies, and Miss Pauline
Whitney the Christmas cards to the children.
Before O'Clock IL was estimated that all Of the
$50 children invited were in the hail. and yet there
wereOver 100 who were still standing on the pave
ment outside. The weather had cleared away SO
beautifully that this, no doubt, had an effect in
increasing the number OF unlimited guests.
ARRIVAL OF MRS. CLEVELAND.
Mrs. Cleveland accompanied by DR.. Ward, came
into the dinIer-room before the children had
marched down stairs. she was received by Mrs.
Webb, Mrs. Hagner, and the other ladies. CON-
missioner Webb shortly afrerward arrived and
joined the party. Mr.. c. c. Willard, Capt. oyster,
and others we're spectators Upon The special in
vitation OF the ladies Mr.. and Mrs. r. Ross Perry,
invited as special guests OF the Christmas Club.
They proved TO be OF great assistance.
The East Washington Club.
The banner Of the Christmas Club floated, in
metaphor at least, over the Odd Fellows Hall,
Maryland, this afternoon. Here the club enter
tanned over six hundred little guests, who began
arriving from all points OF the compass as early
1" O'Clock. AL the morning young ladies were at
work In the hall arranging the eight long tables
that took up nearly all The space in the hall Many
bundles were carried In. out OF some or
turkeys, offered as a sacrifice on the altar
OF santa Claus, could be seen protruding
Good things for Christmas, In great abundance,
then there was such work with carving knives as
was never seen before. Turkeys were cut, hams
and roasts OF beef were SLICED, and nuts and can
noon the buses sent out TO bring the invited
guests TO the banquet hall began to arrive. Al
ready large delegation that had come on foot
Each little one had his ticket OF invita-
ton closely held in his INST. The first
shortly after ~ O'Clock. 1t was raining, but all
who were invited came; none sent regrets. There
were little urchins with their ragged coats pinned
about their necks; little girls who had patched
and brushed up their garments to make them pre-
sentabe; mothers with pinched faces carrying
little ones In their arms
And how their eyes grew and grew as they en-.
tered the hall and Deheld the wonderful sight-the
long tables heaped with slices Of turkey and
mcdtSs iTuitS, CAKES, NUS, anu everything good:
here and there u whole turkey lying on its back
with sprig OF evergreen tucked into its BOSOM
and It's legs raised heavenward as II in supplca-
ton, and at intervals towers made or glass
dishes, garnished with fruit and evergreen
And then on the stage at the end OF
the hall was big Christmas tree.
all glittering with bright objects At one side OF
the tree was heap OF dolls and toys, SO big that
one might imagine that the whole OF Santa Claus
this occasion. There were ladies Of the committee
walking about putting finishing touches here and
there. Young ladies, who acted as walters
and looked very pretty in white caps
and aprons, were arranging the chairs.
Messrs. A. p. Clark, A. T. stuart and other men,
last moments. The little guests were not seated
at once at the tables but were ranged on the
and benches stretched along the sides OF the
room. Here they had chance to view, with won
dertng eyes, all that was going on. To some
OF the little ones who wore ragged shoes
the ladies' brought new shoes. While
the guests sat there several huge freezers of
Brown, were rolled in. The members OF the Marine
Band, who contributed the music, also came In,
and the big fiddle attracted much notice as it went
up TO the stage with its waterproof coat on Soon
there was a stir. and tall gentleman with kindly
face anu siivered hair was ushered In and given a
seat under the Christmas tree. Many or the little
guests thought this must be santa Claus but the
missioner Webb.
soon the nddlers struck up lively march, and
the little guests were conducted to their seats It
took ten minutes or more 20 seat the first three
hundred. When they got into their places there
were napkins to be tucked into little collars. an
WORD 10 "fall 20" was not given. Mr.
Sfuarf advanced the from M tho